ALAMEDA — The East Bay Regional Park District is suing the City of Alameda over the rezoning of property that would permit a high-density housing development at the entrance of Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach.

The agency filed a lawsuit Friday arguing that rezoning the property located at the end of McKay Avenue for as many as 126 units was done without proper notice and without completion of an Environmental Impact Report, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act.

The East Bay Regional Park District has been trying to block the development, arguing that zoning for a private development in the footprint of the state beach is incompatible with the recreational and natural resources operated by the agency.

More than 1 million people visit Crown Beach operated by the agency since 1966, according to East Bay Regional Park District figures.

Toxins released by the algae have poisoned dolphins, manatees, tons of fish and even contributed to the death of a 26-foot-long whale shark. The deluge of dead and rotting wildlife strewn across beaches has threatened to upturn the vital Florida tourist season